Opticsmart.com will be ready to start shipping LightBridge Dobsonians in approximately 2 weeks with our exclusive pre-installed Setting Circle option, and I thought I'd go ahead and offer a little preview. As you can see, these setting circles are elegantly designed and integrated right into the LightBridge base. A combination compass/bubble level (same one used in the HALO) is inset in the base to help make setup and alignment quick and easy. We're also including a very cool little red LED light that we're calling the RED DWARF. With the Red Dwarf's easily bendable neck you can position the light right where you need it to easily read the large white numbers and degree marks on the setting circle, while protecting your dark adapted vision.

When you purchase a LightBridge from Opticsmart.com, you will be able to add the Setting Circle option for the following prices:

LightBridge 10" $94.98

LightBridge 12" $99.98

LightBridge 16" $109.98

We will also be offering the same Setting Circle option on Apertura Dobsonians when they are back in stock in about three weeks.

And as with the HALO, you will need to provide your own altitude gauge (we recommend the Wixey digital angle gauge).

So you all are going to start carrying the Meade Lightbridge? If so that is cool.

Also, I see in this threads original posting that you do not list any sizes and pricing for the Apertura Dobs.What will the Price be for the AD8?I was thing of getting an 8" dob and it was between the Zhumell Z8 and Apertura AD8, but I was leaning toward the Z8 as I saw that your site had them out of stock like they were discontinued. If you are getting them back in stock I may wait longer if the AD8 will have this option as well. That is if it doesn't cost to much.

So you all are going to start carrying the Meade Lightbridge? If so that is cool.

Yes we are, and I agree that is cool!

Also, I see in this threads original posting that you do not list any sizes and pricing for the Apertura Dobs.
What will the Price be for the AD8?

The setting circle options for the Apertura scopes will be the same as on the LightBridges of similar size - so $99.98 for the 12" and $94.98 for the 10". And the price for the AD8 setting circle option will be $89.98.

I was thing of getting an 8" dob and it was between the Zhumell Z8 and Apertura AD8, but I was leaning toward the Z8 as I saw that your site had them out of stock like they were discontinued. If you are getting them back in stock I may wait longer if the AD8 will have this option as well. That is if it doesn't cost to much.

Thanks for the fast reply.I will definitely be keeping an eye out on your site. Those leveling feet also has caught my eye. The area around my house back in Illinois is not to level. Even the slabs around my pool. Ground settling and all.

Thanks for the fast reply.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out on your site. Those leveling feet also has caught my eye. The area around my house back in Illinois is not to level. Even the slabs around my pool. Ground settling and all.

You're welcome VectorRoll!

And speaking of the leveling feet....

By the way, in these photos the leveling legs appear to be leaning. That is just convergence error from the camera, and they actually stand vertical.

How does the stability of the leveling feet compare to the standard feet of the dob base as far as vibration a the eyepiece? Thanks.

Tim

They're pretty darn stable. But we don't have a vibration testing rig, so I can't give you any hard data about damping times.

For maximum stability, you need to run the lock-nut up against the bottom of the steel bracket (by hand only, not necessary or recommended to use a wrench), which will completely get rid of the little bit of "wiggle" inherent in the bolt-nut mating. Once that is done, the 8 gauge steel bracket and 5/16-18 bolt make a very rigid leg. The bottom of the leveling feet do have little rubbery "nubs" that will absorb very minor vibrations from the ground, but I wouldn't consider them a replacement for real sorbothane pads.

On a related note, one of our early HALO customers with a Z12 made the following comment after his first observing session with the HALO:

After moving the Z12 into position the damping time for vibrations to stop was significantly longer than usual, I'd say about 3 seconds. At low power on the DSOs this was not a problem. But on a mixed bag of objects evening (also viewing the Moon at high power) it was a bit distracting.

I told him about running the lock-nut up against the bottom of the HALO, and after his next observing session he said this:

I gave Dave's suggestion of tightening the bolts on the base legs a try. (Doh!) I only tightened them "thumb tight" not "wrench tight" and I noticed the vibration time was almost halved. Since I plan on using the HALO at several sites tightening further is maybe not a good idea. I found the vibration damping time to now be just fine.

By comparison, when you attach the leveling feet directly to the Dob base, they are even more stable than when attached to the outboard edge of the wood HALO (and the Dob base simply sits on the HALO with no hard connection). So I doubt seriously if anyone is going to have a problem with vibration with these feet attached directly to the Dob base.

As far as stability I keep the leveling feet as short as possible, and making adjustments with just two levelers to bring the base to up to level.

Absolutely! When the bolt is at its maximum extended height, it is possible for it to flex slightly more than when at lower settings (but we're talking a pretty minimal amount of flex here - it takes quite a bit of force to flex a 5/16 bolt). So as you said, the optimum way to set the feet would be to leave one leg as low as the slope/terrain will allow, and raise the other two feet to level.